Appalachian Regional Commission (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Kensington: live, oil, housing)

[PacoMartin]

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) defines 52 of the 67 counties in PA to be part of the Appalachian Region. At the same time it distinguishes Western PA from the region's core in Eastern Tennessee and North Carolina.

The population of 28 of these 52 counties dropped from the 2000 to the 2010 census. Overall the region lost 0.5% . It would be significantly worse if the easternmost counties of were not counted.

Over half the population of the state lives in the 15 counties in the Southeast, sometimes called Philadelphia and the Piedmont hills.

Demographically the Appalachian region remains over 90% non-latino white, while the smaller cities within 100 mile radius of Philadelphia are becoming very Latino.

Can this situation ever be reversed? Or is everyone OK with a shrinking population?

The population loss will likely increase in future census.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by PacoMartin

Can this situation ever be reversed? Or is everyone OK with a shrinking population?

If development of the coal, oil and gas resources become a reality, then industry may well increase too, and the population will need to increase.

If development of the Utica and Marcellus formations does not materialize, then it would be best if the population stays down as there won't be really anything new for masses of new migrants to work at- unless something else comes down for the people to work at.

[BrianTH]

The urbanized parts of Northern Appalachia will likely increase in population, also gradually becoming more ethnically diverse along the way, but I suspect the rural parts will continue to lose population. That, in fact, has been happening for a while in the Pittsburgh Metro--the urbanized portion has been gaining population while the rural population has been losing population.

Exactly how that will net out over that particular set of counties in the next couple Censuses I don't know, but there is really not much we can do about rural population loss--that is happening for fundamental economic reasons.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

The urbanized parts of Northern Appalachia will likely increase in population, also gradually becoming more ethnically diverse along the way,

Pittsburgh may well become even more diverse in the decades ahead, but the uninformed reader might get the impression that Pittsburgh isn't already extremely ethnically diverse.

Although its certainly a fact that no great waves of immigrants have hit the area since the collapse of steel in the 70s/80s, there is a wide and varied ethnic experience to be had in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Folk Festival has been held for decades, and will be held in 2012 in Monroeville.

The 55th International Pittsburgh Folk Festival

[UKyank]

Unfortunately diversity these days only refers to skin color.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That, in fact, has been happening for a while in the Pittsburgh Metro--the urbanized portion has been gaining population while the rural population has been losing population.

I actually foresee the trend of population decline in Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties ebbing (while I foresee no end in sight for Fayette County, unfortunately). Armstrong County was just added to the Pittsburgh MSA in 2003 due to shifts in commuting patterns, and with the eventual improvement of Route 28 I can see Freeport revitalizing itself and adjacent South Buffalo Township seeing a development boom. With little or no traffic congestion along the Route 28 Corridor the commute from Freeport to Downtown Pittsburgh won't become such a hassle at approximately 30 minutes each way (with an even closer commute to the RIDC Park in O'Hara Township). With its inexpensive housing stock and less "hurried" atmosphere New Kensington, Arnold, and Lower Burrell Township in nearby Westmoreland County also stand poised to benefit from an improved Route 28.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Unfortunately diversity these days only refers to skin color.

In reality though, most European ethnics have become Americanized, with many mixing with other ethnicities, and losing the unique flavor that they once had.

[Craziaskowboi]

Yeah, here's a better map:

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Pittsburgh may well become even more diverse in the decades ahead, but the uninformed reader might get the impression that Pittsburgh isn't already extremely ethnically diverse.

That's a fair point, although I also agree that the cultural diversity associated with an immigration wave gradually diminishes as time passes and subsequent generations assimilate. So in my view Pittsburgh will become a less and less diverse place over time unless its population is refreshed with more new immigrants, which hasn't happened much recently but that may be changing.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I actually foresee the trend of population decline in Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties ebbing (while I foresee no end in sight for Fayette County, unfortunately).

Note that most suburbs count as "urbanized" by Census definitions (and as I was using the term here). So while I agree some or most of the outlying counties in the Pittsburgh Metro may gain population, if that is happening through new and/or expanding suburban developments, that will still be registered as increases in the urbanized population share of the Metro. And I strongly suspect that the parts of those counties that remain rural will continue to lose population.